s groomers, we all know just how much work goes into learning the skills needed to do our job. We spend years learning and honing our craft to safely and efficiently groom pets to each individual client’s expectation. However, as an industry, we are still fighting to have our jobs taken seriously by the public.

What many see as a temporary job or “just a hobby,” we see as a genuine career path that we have dedicated ourselves to. Though it has taken time, we are finally making strides in being seen as legitimate businesses and tradespeople—but we still have a long way to go.

As we continue to work towards being more respected as professionals, the expectation of and need for employee benefits has increased. Individuals and families seeking benefits such as health care and retirement savings often end up leaving their workplace to go where these are offered, even if they are happy at their current place of employment.

As employers, offering a benefits package is not only a way to keep top talent at your salon; it is also a way to show respect and appreciation for your team, and increase your total compensation package without raising commission rates.

Health Insurance is one of the most important and highly sought-after employee benefits today. Offering health insurance as an employee benefit is important for your team’s health, wellness and longevity in the industry.

For years, we have normalized health insurance only being possible if you work in a corporate environment, which is no longer true. There are so many options out there for businesses of all sizes to offer health insurance to its employees if you know where to look.

Depending on how much you have available to spend each month on insurance, you can even choose to offer partial or full coverage to your employees. Many health insurance companies offer group rates to small businesses, and they are often cheaper than going through the marketplace.

A health insurance broker can be a great resource for finding a plan that will fit in your business’s budget. They have the contacts and resources available to compare multiple companies at once, saving you time and frustration.
Another great place to look for affordable health insurance is your payroll company. Many are partnered with insurance brokers who are able to offer multiple plan options that fit your budget.

If all else fails, you can also offer a Health Insurance Stipend for employees. This would be a flat dollar amount that you reimburse them each month to cover their own private insurance plans that they have enrolled in.

Another popular option in this space is offering a Health and Wellness Stipend. This could include paying for a gym membership, regular massages, acupuncture, mental health appointments or even a healthy food subscription service. These are all great add-ons to offering health insurance.

We all need a break sometimes, and offering employees paid and unpaid time off is a great way to ensure your team doesn’t get burnt out or overworked. You should always check with your state labor requirements, as some require paid sick time, maternity leave or paid time off which is earned based on hours worked.

Even if your state does not have these requirements, paid time off is still a great way to reward your employees for their hard work. Some business owners choose to pay a flat rate for this, while others choose to calculate the average hourly wage their employees earn. Both work great, as long as they follow your local laws and guidelines.

Another benefit which is gaining popularity is more flexibility with unpaid time off. Many salon owners are not setting a maximum number of unpaid days off their employees take, as long as they are requested with reasonable time and do not disrupt the schedule. This lets your employees know that you care about their personal life as well as their spent time in your business.

Maintaining equipment is an important part of our jobs as pet stylists; not only to make it last longer, but also for safety and cleanliness. Offering a regular stipend or allowance for shear sharpening or tool maintenance is a great way to ensure your team’s tools stay in tip-top shape and remain safe to use on the pets in your business.

Offering continuing education benefits is one of the best ways to keep your team engaged and excited about their job, with the added benefit of constantly improving their skills and, in turn, your business.

There are many ways you can offer continuing education to your team, but some may include:

• Offering subscriptions to courses or websites with grooming videos and tutorials
• Hiring high-level groomers to teach seminars at your salon
• Bringing in a CPR/First Aid certifier or paying for them to take an in-person course
• Covering certification fees or hosting a certification course at your salon
• Paying for admission to grooming trade shows and seminars
• Reimbursing grooming contest entry fees
• Providing model dogs for employees to practice breed trims on
• Attending local dog shows

Another option to reward your team is to provide pet insurance at a covered or discounted rate. Much like health insurance, many pet insurance companies offer discounted group rates to businesses. What better way to reward your employees than to help them take care of their own pets?

Offering an employer-sponsored retirement plan is a huge benefit that is still not very common in our industry. Giving your employees the opportunity to save for their future and even providing a contribution match are extremely valuable and show that you care about your team’s long-term wellbeing.

Business owners should consult with a tax professional before choosing a retirement benefit, as they can have important tax implications.

These are just a few examples of popular employee benefits, but they can absolutely be tailored to what your employees really want and need. Feel free to get creative, and let’s all start thinking of more ways that we can reward and compensate our employees that are so vital to our grooming businesses.